I joined the Smoke Signal staff 17 years ago. Former editor, Pat Willby, recruited me. I came to her attention through my garden club articles. I have been the Smoke Signal Secretary for 16 years and have written many articles.

My husband and I have been Smoke Rise residents since 1972 and have one daughter, who is an Auburn graduate.

Most of my Smoke Signal work revolves around features, holidays and personal interviews which are compatible with my educational background.

I have a degree from the Higher School of Economics in Berlin, Germany with emphasis on foreign correspondence. I hold a B.S.in Human Resources and a minor in Philosophy from Mercer University and graduated Magna cum Laude. I was elected to "Who is Who in American Universities and Colleges. I belong to the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Through the years I have volunteered for hospital work, juvenile diabetes foundation, garden club, and as a German Teacher in Smoke Rise Elementary School. For three years I served on the Juvenile Court of DeKalb County, reviewing child abuse cases and making recommendations only to judges. I am fluent in German and have studied French, Spanish and Russian.

My former residences include Berlin, Frankfurt, New York, Philadelphia and presently Stone Mountain. My hobbies include bridge, reading, writing, gourmet cooking and traveling. At a young age I was a competitive gymnast and belonged to a rowing team in my teens. Later on tennis became the sport I favored most. The work with the Smoke Signal is gratifying since it serves the community and the staff is a dedicated group of volunteers which aims to improve the quality of life at a place we all call home through fostering communication and understanding about what is happening that can influence our lives.